COLUMBIA, S.C. — Audubon South Carolina today celebrated the passage of South Carolina Senate Bill 383 — the "Prothonotary Warbler Recognition Act" — which designates the brilliant yellow, swamp-dwelling songbird as South Carolina’s official migratory bird. The legislation passed the South Carolina House unanimously, as it did in the Senate last year, and is now headed to Gov. Henry McMaster to be signed into law.
“We are deeply grateful to lawmakers in both chambers for coming together in strong, bipartisan support of this bird and what it represents for South Carolina,” said Merrill McGregor, policy director at Audubon South Carolina. “The Prothonotary Warbler is a spectacular bird of our wetlands and swamps. This bill will help highlight the importance of protecting these habitats for birds and the communities that depend on them. It also shows that caring about birds and the places they need is something that all South Carolinians can get behind.”
Sometimes referred to as the “swamp canary” or “swamp candle,” the lemon-yellow Prothonotary Warbler is a small songbird that nests in forested wetlands from the Upstate to the coast. It is the only eastern warbler that nests in cavities, raising its young in holes in cypress knees, hollow branches, and even birdhouses placed near the water’s edge.
Approximately 50,000 Prothonotary Warblers nest in South Carolina each year, roughly three percent of the species’ global population. Research by Audubon South Carolina has shown that these birds complete an extraordinary 5,000-mile round-trip migration to Colombia and other parts of Central and South America, often returning to the very same nesting site year after year.
“The Prothonotary Warbler depends on healthy swamps and river corridors,” said Rebecca Haynes, executive director of Audubon South Carolina. “By recognizing this species, lawmakers are elevating the importance of conserving wetlands that protect water quality, reduce flooding and support communities across South Carolina.”
Audubon South Carolina thanks bill sponsors Sen. Tom Davis, Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, Rep. Bill Hixon, and Rep. Cal Forrest for championing this legislation through the House of Representatives.
About Audubon South Carolina
Audubon South Carolina protects birds and the places they need, right here in South Carolina. We’re the state office of the National Audubon Society, which has more than one million members and a century-long track record of success. In South Carolina, we represent nearly 30,000 members and supporters, 10 Audubon chapters and bird club partners, two Audubon sanctuaries, one nature center, and more than 30,000 acres of land that we own or manage using bird- and climate-friendly forestry. Learn more about what we do and how to help at sc.audubon.org. Follow us on Facebook at @scaudubon and Instagram at @audubon_sc.
About Audubon
The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.
Photos or Media Contact: Ben Graham, ben.graham@audubon.org
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